Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Notebook Computer Teardown

Overview / Main Features

The Lenovo Thinkpad T410 is a business oriented, 14-inch display notebook computer powered by an Intel Core i7 620M processor and QM57 Express Chipset. This Lenovo laptop under analysis is configured with 4GB of DDR3-1066 of memory [on two SO-DIMM modules], a 320GB hard-disk drive [running at 7200rpm], Intel Centrino 802.11n-capable WLAN module, as well as a lithium ion 6-cell battery. Also, the Thinkpad T410 comes with a CD/DVD RW optical drive, a Broadcom Bluetooth module and an integrated 2MP webcam.

Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Notebook Computer Main Image

Medium to Small Business Mobile Computing

Released

Per press releases, first release in early 2010.

Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Notebook Computer - Motherboard Top

Pricing - The Lenovo Thinkpad T410 is listed for approximated $1300 USD (as configured) on Lenovo's website.

Availability - Assumed global

Volume Estimations

For the purposes of this teardown analysis, we have assumed a lifetime production volume of 1.5M units.

As a reminder, teardown volume production assumptions are primarily used for our cost analysis in terms of amortized NRE and tooling costs, especially for custom components specific to the model being analyzed (mechanical components especially). Unless assumed volumes are different by an order of magnitude, minor changes in volume (say 1 million vs. 2) rarely have a large net effect on our final analysis because of this.

Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Notebook Computer - Motherboard Bottom

Lenovo, according to iSuppli's PC Market Share Q1 2010 database, is ranked as the number 4 notebook PC maker with approximately 8.3 million units shipped worldwide. This gives the Chinese PC maker a 8.6 percent market share and a quarter to quarter increase in volume of 18.6% which gives Lenovo the distinction of the only OEM in the top 5 that turned in a sequential growth.

Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Notebook Computer Cost Analysis

Main Cost Drivers Representing ~85% of total materials cost

Intel - CP80617003981AH - CPU - Intel Core i7-620M, Dual Cores, 2.66GHz, 4MB L3 Cache, 32nm Process

Ramaxel Group - RMT1970ED48E8F-1066 - SO-DIMM DDR3-1066 - 2GB, 256Mx64, 1.5V (Qty:2)

LG Display - LP141WX5-TLP3 - Display Module Value Line Item - 14.1' TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 Pixels, 262K Colors, 16ms Response Time, 400:1 Contrast Ratio, LED Backlight

Seagate - ST9320423AS - Hard Drive - 320GB, 2.5' SATA 3Gb/s, 7200RPM, 16MB Buffer

Panasonic - UJ892 - CD/DVD RW Drive - Slim Internal Type, Tray Load, SATA

Compeq - 10-Layer - FR4, Lead-Free

Battery Pack - Li-Ion, 6-Cell, 10.8V, 5200mAh, 57Wh

Intel - BD82QM57SLGZQ - Platform Controller Hub - QM57 Express Chipset, 65nm

Intel - 633ANHMW - WLAN Half Mini PCIe Module Value Line Item - Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300, IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n, 3x3 MIMO

92P1156 - AC Adapter - 20V, 3.25A, 65W, w/ 6ft Cord & Velcro Strap

Keyboard Assembly - Injection Molded Plastic Keys, Mounted on Metal Backing Plate, w/ Pointing Stick Button / Controller PCB

Chicony - Webcam PCB - Contains 2MP Camera Module, USB2.0 Video Interface Controller & Supporting Elements

Materials and Manufacturing $613.70

What Is Not Included in our Cost Analysis

The total materials and manufacturing costs reported in this analysis reflect ONLY the direct materials cost (from component vendors and assorted EMS providers), AND manufacturing with basic test. Not included in this analysis are costs above and beyond the material manufacture of the core device itself - cost of intellectual property, royalties and licensing fees (those not already included into the per component price), software, software loading and test, shipping, logistics marketing and other channel costs including not only EMS provider and the OEM's margin, but that of other resellers. Our cost analysis is meant to focus on those costs incurred in the manufacture of the core device and exceptionally in some circumstances the packaging and literature as well.

Manufacturing Notes

Lenovo's Mobile PC manufacturing profile, according to iSuppli's Global OEM Manufacturing and Design Analysis - GOMDA), is a 31% in house and 69% outsourced model with Wistron, Quanta, Compal making up 33%, 27% and 9% respectively of their total output capacity.

Country of Origin / Volume Assumptions

Based on markings, the unit was likely assembled in China. Furthermore, we have assumed that custom mechanicals (plastics, metals, etc.) were also sourced in China.

Country of origin assumptions relate directly to the associated cost of manufacturing, where calculated by iSuppli. In the cases of 'finished' sub-assemblies (such as display module), we do not calculate internal manufacturing costs, but rather assess the market price of the finished product in which case country of origin assumptions may or may not have a direct effect on pricing.

Remember also that labor rates are applied directly only to hand inserted components and systems in our bill of materials, and although regional assumptions do, these new rates do not have a direct effect on our modeled calculations of placement costs for automated SMD assembly lines. "Auto inserted components (such as SMT components) placement costs are calculated by an iSuppli algorithm which allocates a cost per component based on the size and pincount of the device. This calculation is affected by country or region of origin as well.

Design for Manufacturing / Device Complexity

The Lenovo Thinkpad T410 has an overall component count of 2136 (excluding box contents), of which 1619 resides on the motherboard. This level of complexity is on the higher end of notebook computers we have analyzed.

Component counts have a direct bearing on the overall manufacturing cycle times and costs, and also can increase or decrease overall yields and re-work. Our calculations of manufacturing costs factor counts and more qualitative complexities in the design. The cost of manufacturing is also, to some extent, decreased in this case because of assumed labor rate applied for China.

Note that manual labor has a much smaller effect on auto-insertion assembly lines (for the Main PCB, for example), where manufacturing costs are much more capital equipment intensive and driven by these investment costs.

Design Notes

Here is a summary of the major components used in the Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Laptop design:

Display

• Display Module - LG Display - LP141WX5-TLP3,14.1' TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 Pixels, 262K Colors, 16ms Response Time, 400:1 Contrast Ratio, LED Backlight

Motherboard

Chipset

• Platform Controller Hub - Intel - BD82QM57SLGZQ, QM57 Express Chipset, 65nm

CPU

• CPU - Intel - CP80617003981AH, Intel Core i7-620M, Dual Cores, 2.66GHz, 4MB L3 Cache, 32nm Process

I/O & Interface

• MCU - Renesas - R4F2112TE25H, H8S/2000 Core, 25MHz, 96kB ROM, 4kB RAM, Built-In LPC
• Microcontroller - Rohm - BU77700KVT
• Audio Codec - Conexant - CX20585-11Z
• Multiplexer / Demultiplexer - Texas Instruments - TS3L500AERHUR, Gigabit LAN Switch, 16-Bit To 8-Bit SPDT, w/ LED Switch & Enhanced ESD Protection
• Ethernet Transceiver - Intel - WG82577LM, Gigabit, Single Port, 10/100/1000 BASE-T IEEE 802.3
• Memory Card Reader Controller - Ricoh - R5U230, SD/MMC/xD/MS/MS Pro, w/ 1-Lane PCI Express to an IEEE1394

Power Management

• Power Management IC - Rohm - BD41760KVT

Memory Module

• SO-DIMM - Ramaxel Group - RMT1970ED48E8F-1066, DDR3-1066 - 2GB, 256Mx64, 1.5V, Qty. 2

Communication Modules

• Bluetooth Module - Broadcom - BCM92070MD_LENO, V2.1+EDR
• WLAN Half Mini PCIe Module - Intel - 633ANHMW, Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300, IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n, 3x3 MIMO

Storage Devices

• Hard Drive - Seagate - ST9320423AS, 320GB, 2.5' SATA 3Gb/s, 7200RPM, 16MB Buffer
• CD/DVD RW Drive - Panasonic - UJ892, Slim Internal Type, Tray Load, SATA

Battery

• Battery Pack - Li-Ion, 6-Cell, 10.8V, 5200mAh, 57Wh

Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Notebook Computer - Box Contents